University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service graduate Nora Bouzihay will be one of seven recipients of the Rising Star Award at A Celebration of Startups, Presented by Remix Ideas. The awards will be presented Friday night at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub’s headquarters in North Little Rock.

“I started an online scarves boutique back in March to empower young women and girls,” Bouzihay said. “That’s where the inspiration came from.”

Bouzihay’s business, NowaraCo, is one of seven startups being recognized at the event. One of the ways she was able to grow her business was by becoming involved with pop-up shops at local events like Africa Day Fest and Little Rock Night Market.

Nowara, which translates to “Flower” in Arabic, is a nickname given to Bouzihay by her Moroccan grandmother, who passed away while she was completing her Capstone project at the Clinton School.

“Her wisdom of influencing women and girls within her community is a legacy I want to continue to uphold with NowaraCo in her memory,” Bouzihay said. “What better way to continue her legacy and to inspire people?”

NowaraCo’s scarves have been sold across the world, including Germany, Abu Dhabi, and Syria. For every three scarves that someone purchases, one goes to a refugee.

“In the spring, I’m planning a trip to visit refugee camps to deliver the scarves,” she said.

The first female in her family to graduate from high school, Bouzihay is the director of North Little Rock Works. She also serves as a tutor in the Little Rock School District and is a graduate assistant in academic advising and a first-year experience instructor at UA Little Rock.

Bouzihay is pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) at UA Little Rock, specifically in higher education leadership within the Middle East and northern Africa. She earned her Master of Public Service from the Clinton School in 2017 and an undergraduate degree in biology from UA Little Rock in 2015.